British ship heading to ward off Somali pirates held at port in Spain

British ship heading to ward off Somali pirates held at port in Spain after
being forced to stop

- Defender was on way to East African coast to protect oil platforms
- Eight former Royal Marines are understood to be on board
- Now being held in a fenced-off area at Santa Cruz port in Tenerife
- It has been inspected five times in less than a week

DAILY MAIL (UK)
By Gerard Couzens
April 28, 2013

A British-owned ex-navy ship on its way to ward off Somali pirates has been
stopped from sailing and held at a port in Spain.

Former Royal Navy Lieutenant Chris Enmarsh's vessel Defender has suffered
five inspections in less than a week since being forced to stop off in
Tenerife for repairs.

Today it was being held in a fenced-off area at Santa Cruz port after being
given a Spanish Royal Navy escort from the resort of Los Cristianos in the
south of the island where it made its unplanned stopover on Tuesday.

Eight former Royal Marines are understood to be on board the vessel, which
was heading to East Africa to protect oil platforms on the East African
coastline from pirates.

Tenerife maritime authorities are thought to be preventing Defender from
continuing its journey over security issues relating to its lifesaving
equipment.

The 127ft long vessel, built in Lowestoft, Norfolk, in the mid seventies
for the Sultan of Oman as a fast attack vessel, has two cannons as well as
two unused machine gun emplacements.

Eight former Royal Marines are understood to be on board the vessel, which
was heading to East Africa to protect oil platforms on the East African
coastline from pirates

Local government officials say they called in the Spanish Navy on Wednesday
after an inspection revealed 'administrative irregularities' in the
vessel's documentation.

Civil Guards who have carried out their own inspection say they have found
no irregularities.

Speaking before a recent refit at Fullbridge, Essex, after buying the
vessel, Mr Enmarsh said: 'Defender's task will be to deter pirates intent on
boarding the many ships that pass the East African coastline.

'One look at her should be enough to send them looking for easier targets.

'She will be manned by handpicked ex-Royal Marine Commandos and run as a
professional naval ship, obeying the rules of engagement.

'Our primary task will be to protect oil platforms which are towed close to
the coast of East Africa and a number of oil companies want to hire
Defender to look after their interests.

'We are not mercenaries, this is strictly a business venture similar to
other British private protection firms which operate in Iraq and Afghanistan.'

Defender's new owner was not available for comment today.